"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
Joseph Campbell
MAY 21-23, 2010
About Will Bleakley
On February 28, 2009, four friends set out for an all day fishing event which quickly turned disastrous due to the weather. All four men were lost at sea for days before one friend, Nick Schuyler was rescued. >read more on about Will page
100% of Proceeds from the tournament go toward a scholarship fund at USF. The Will Bleakley Memorial Scholarship is for a Citrus County High School graduate who demonstrates financial need. The Scholarship will be a $1,500 award each semester.
William Ward Bleakley
On February 28, 2009, four friends set out for an all day fishing event which quickly turned disastrous due to the weather. All four men were lost at sea for days before one friend, Nick Schuyler was rescued. Unfortunately, the other three men, Will Bleakley, Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith were not so lucky, they were never found and are presumed dead.
One of the men was William "Will" Bleakley.
Will graduated with honors from Crystal River High School in 2002, after being named a St. Petersburg Times All-Suncoast tight end in 2001. He lettered in three seasons with the University of South Florida Bulls from 2004-06. Bleakley was a walk-on to the USF team, but later earned a scholarship and became captain. He graduated from USF in 2006 with degrees in accounting and finance.
Will was also a member of the 2008 and 2009 St. Petersburg Sharks/Storm Baseball Team which plays in the Clearwater Mens Adult Baseball League. His last game was exactly 6 days before this tragic accident. He was the type of player who is irreplaceable in a lineup and irreplaceable as a friend and our team will never be the same without him in our lives.
Will is a hero and is credited with swimming under the capsized boat to retrieve the life jackets which saved the life of his friend, Nick. This is the type of person he was. He loved to golf, fish, and play cards, football, baseball, volleyball and other sports. Will has a legion of friends, classmates, and teammates who understand what a great guy that he was.
There is no greater way to honor someone you lose than by keeping his memory alive.
We continue to pray for the families of Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith and of course we continue to pray for Nick Schuylers recovery.
2010 Tournament Info
Dates: MAY 21-23, 2010
Locations:
Friday May 21 - Professional Fields throughout Tampa Bay including Jack Russell Stadium
Saturday May 22 - Raymond A. Naimoli Complex - St. Petersburg
Sunday May 23 - Semi-finals & Championship at Progress Energy Stadium at Al Lang Field
Team Fee:
$500 per team. (_16 players per team its only around $30 per player )
$100 Deposit before April 1, 2010.
$400 Remaining Balance due by May 1, 2010.
MAY Registration late fee extra $100.
No teams will be accepted after May 10, 2010.
Team fee covers teams with up to 20 players.
$40 each additional player above 20.
FEE INCLUDES ALL FIELDS, BALLS, UMPIRES, SCOREBOOKS, SCORECARDS AND AWARDS .
Awards: Championship, Second Place and Tournament MVP trophies.
Divisions: 18+
Format: Wood Bat
Help Us!
We accept monetary donations along with items for our silent auction and raffle.
To mail your donation: please see our contact page for mailing information.
We accept PayPal donations to the following email address: stpetestorm_yahoo.com or click the PayPal link below to go directly there.
- Donations will also be accepted at any St. Petersburg Storm Baseball game up to event.
- Large donations can be made directly to the Will Bleakley Memorial Scholaship Fund at USF. Please contact me for information regarding direct contributions.
What type of Items can I donate?
1. Items for Silent Auctions/Raffles: Sports Memoriabilia, Gift Certificates or anything new or unused of value. Last year we had autographed items, LCD TV, restaurant gift certificates, Limo Service, Hotel Packages .. etc...etc... Please email and inquire if youre looking to donate ! Anything is appreciate!
2. We are always looking to borrow items for the tournament that we will return at the conculusion of the event such as 10x10 canopy tents and most importantly tables and chairs.
How can I become an event sponsor?
If interested in becoming an event sponsor, we'll place your companies ad on this website, official letterhead and tournament correspondance. In addition your companies logo will be placed inside our program given out at the games and if you have a banner your welcome to have it placed up at the field during the event.
Last years tournament website had over 15,000 hits in the months surrounding the event.
Donate to a great cause and we'll give you great exposure.
Any donation is appreciated.
Cómpralo Ya
2010 Sponsorship Packages
2009 Media Coverage
Please see the links to the right for 2009 event media coverage.
Tampa Bays 10 - http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=105214
St Petersburg Times - http://www.tampabay.com/news/briefs/article997044.ece
Tampa Tribune - http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/31/charity-baseball-tournament-honors-deceased-usf-pl/
TampaBay.com - http://www.tampabay.com/news/briefs/article997044.ece
Tampa Bay.com Blog - http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2009/03/memorial-baseball-event-in-bleakleys-honor.html
USF News - http://www.usforacle.com/baseball-tourney-honors-bleakley-1.1714923
Media Contact & Info
Media Contact:
Anthony Turchetti
Tournament Director
info_wb84.com
Tournament Info:
COMING SOON!
Info
Form
Mailing Address
St. Petersburg Storm Baseball Inc.
PO Box 67401
St. Pete Beach, FL 33736
Telephone
Please email me for my number
Email
TOURNAMENT RULES
Note: any rule not specifically mentioned will be governed by the official rules Major League Baseball
1. UNIFORMS, HELMETS, & BASEBALLS
1a. All teams must have full uniforms consisting of caps, numbered jerseys, baseball pants, socks.
1b. All batters and runners must have helmets; there is no option to this rule. Catchers are also encouraged to wear a helmet under their mask.
1c. Each team should have two baseballs available for each game. We will expect to use four baseballs per game, two per team.
1d. Wood Bat Only!
2. GAME LENGTH
2a. All tournament games will be 7 innings. (9 Inning for playoff games)
2b. There will be a 2 hour and 30 minute time limit on 7 inning games, except the Semi-finals and Championship games which will be 9 inning games with NO TIME LIMIT. The time limit begins with the first pitch of the game. No inning will start after the time limit is reached. All innings already in progress at the time limit will be allowed to finish.
TEAMS, PLAYERS, LINE-UPS
3a. All players must be in good standing with their respective league.
3b. Team rosters, including uniform numbers must be submitted at registration.
3c. All teams must be paid in full, no team failing to meet this requirement will be allowed to play any games.
3d. All players must have signed waver forms on file with the tournament director.
3e. A team manager may bat as many players as he desires, with a minimum of 9 (subject to the number of batters available if less than 9). Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game.
3f. A manager may add batters to the bottom of the lineup at any time but if a batter is pinch-hit or run for (except under courtesy runners as outlined in Section 5), the player may not re-enter the game as a hitter but may remain in the game as a fielder or pitcher. Each team has hitting and defensive lineups that are independent of each other. Players may play in either lineup or both.
3g. if a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or commitment or if a player is ejected from a game, a reserve player, not previously entered into the game as a hitter, must hit in the batters place. If no reserve is present, that spot is skipped and all batters move up accordingly, with no penalty to the affected team.
3h. A team must have nine roster players for an official tournament game.
3i. All players may be substituted for defensively at any time, without affecting the players offensive status in the lineup. If the pitcher is removed, he may re-enter to pitch only one time in the same inning. The removed pitcher may play any other position after being removed or no position at all.
3j. Final tournament team rosters must have no less than 12 players.
3k. No player can be on more than one roster within the same division.
3l. A player must have one plate appearance or pitch one inning to be eligible for the playoffs.
4. SPORTSMANSHIP
4a. There will be no beer or alcoholic beverages permitted at the field before, during, or after the game. The field refers to the general playing area.
4b. The tournament director has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses league rules or who does not exhibit a sense of sportsmanship or who plays without regard to the safety of the umpires or other players.
4c. The umpire has sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game.
4d. Fighting among players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated and players expelled from the game for either violation will be suspended from the remainder of the tournament.
4e. Players shall not intentionally collide with any other player. In the case of a runner intentionally colliding with a fielder, the runner will be called out, and may at the umpires discretion be expelled from the game. All base runners must either slide or give up their right to a base (avoid a collision by stopping or leaving the base path) if the defensive player (e.g. catcher) has possession of the ball, is in the act of receiving the ball, or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able tot make an apparent play on the runner. If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball, is not in the act of receiving the ball, or is not about to immediately receive the ball so that he is able to record an out (apparent play at any base), he cannot block the base (e.g. home plate) or be in the base path so as to impede (obstruct) the base runners right to that base. Under such circumstances, the defensive player shall be responsible to avoid any collision. If a collision does occur under these circumstances the runner will always be considered safe and the obstruction rule shall be enforced. The defensive player may be ejected from the game (if the action is intentional, he must be ejected), and will be suspended from the tournament if the obstruction is judged to be flagrant.;
5. COURTESY RUNNERS
5a. For this tournament, Courtesy runners for pitcher, catcher and one other player ONLY!
6. PITCHERS
6a. No pitcher while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove or wristband while pitching.
6b. Intentional walks will be allowed in the tournament.
6c. There will be no regulation as to the number of innings a pitcher may pitch in the tournament.
7. FIELDERS
7a. Infielders are not allowed to decoy a throw or catch. If a decoy throw or catch is detected, all runners shall be allowed to advance one base beyond the base held after all play stops. If the same fielder decoys twice in the same game, the fielder shall be expelled from the game. Decoying is referred to as a false catch or throw done in an attempt to get the player to slide unnecessarily, where no strategic value is gained.
8. CODE OF CONDUCT
Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:
8a. Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game, and will be expelled from the remainder of the tournament.
8b. Refuse to abide by an officials decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be suspended from further participation in the game.
8c. Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an officials decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be suspended from further participation in the game.
8d. Discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions. Players guilty of such conduct shall be suspended from further participation in the game.
8e. Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game, and will be expelled from the remainder of the tournament.
8f. Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before during or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game, and will be expelled from the remainder of the tournament.
8g. Be guilty of verbal abuse of any player, manager, official, or spectator, before during or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be suspended from further participation in the game.
8h. Consume alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during the game or be on the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. Players guilty of such conduct shall be suspended from further participation in the game.
8i. No smoking on the field of play or in the dugout. Players guilty of such conduct shall be suspended from further participation in the game.
9. PENALTIES
9a. Any player that is suspended from a game for non-flagrant offenses as outlined previously in the rules, shall be allowed to return to play in the teams next game. A second suspension will eliminate that player from the remainder of the tournament. Any penalties will be decided by the tournament director.
10. GRIEVANCES, PROTESTS, & APPEALS
10a. Protest involving normal baseball rules must be filed with umpire at time of play. No protest will be allowed after next pitch is thrown.
10b. All grievances, protests, or appeals must be filed with the tournament director immediately following the completion of the game. The tournament directors ruling will be final.
11. SCORING & TIEBREAKERS
11a. Ties will be allowed during the preliminary division play of round robin games should a game be called due to a time limit. No ties, and no time limit will be in effect for the Semi-finals or the Championship games.
11b. A win will be worth two (2) points, and a tie will be worth one (1) point.
11c. The tiebreakers for determining the teams that will advance to the Semi-finals and Championship games will be as follows, and will go only as far through the list as needed to break the tie:
1. Head to head competition (cannot break three way tie).
2. Fewest total runs allowed in the preliminary division games.*(average runs per game if one team has played 4 round robin games)
3. Fewest runs allowed in any one preliminary game.
4. Flip of a coin.
12. AWARDS & TROPHIES
12a. Championship trophies will be given to each team in each division.
12b. MVP awards will be given out in the Championship games in each division.
13. AGE REQUIREMENTS
13a. Refer to CMBL Rule (18+)
13b. Any age challenge must take place during ground rules with the umpires, anyone that cannot prove their age will be ineligible for that game. If a player arrives after game starts age challenge must take place when player is announced as entering game. If an under age player is used both he and his coach will be suspended for entire tournament. Any game appeared in will be forfeited.
14. PLAYOFF ELGIBILITY
14.a. One plate appearance or one inning pitched is required to be eligible for the playoffs.
15. HOME TEAM
15.a Home team in playoffs will be higher seeded team, if the finals are two like seeded teams the team allowing the fewest runs in the tournament.
16. SPEED UP RULE
16.a Every time the catcher or pitcher gets on base with two outs, a courtesy runner is to be used to enable the catcher to gear up and the pitcher to be ready for the next defensive inning. The courtesy runner will be the last batted out. (THIS IS OPTIONAL)
Raffle Ticket Info
$10 per ticket
Limiting the sale to only 200 tickets!!
1st Prize: 42" LCD TV
2nd Prize: $250 Best Buy Gift Card
3rd Prize: $150 Gift Certificate - Don Cesar Resort in St. Pete Beach (Use for rooms or any restaurant in the resort)
4th Prize: $100 Gas Card
TO PURCHASE SEND PAYMENT TO ADDRESS ON CONTACT PAGE OR SEND YOUR $10 "DONATION" TO OUR PAYPAL. IF PAYING WITH PAYPAL IT MUST SAY "DONATION" ONLY NOT RAFFLE AND SEND SEPARATE EMAIL NOTIFYING ME OF TICKET PURCHASE. (Due to pay restrictions on raffle sales)
Silent Auction Info
ITEM PREVIEW
3/2 Night Stay at the Sirata Resort
Old Hickory Maple & Ash Bats
Sunset Sailboat Cruises
Marucci Maple Bats
Major League Scouting Package
Autographed Sports Items
Restaurant Gift Certificates
Fishing Trip Packages
MUCH MORE GREAT STUFF TO COME!
Friday games will be played at fields throughout the Bay area including Jack Russell Stadium, (BELOW) spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 2003.
Saturday games will be held at Naimoli Complex (TOP RIGHT), former spring training complex of the Tampa Bay Rays from 1995 2003.
Our semi-finals and championship game will be held May 23 tentatively scheduled for 8am, 12pm & 4pm at Al Lang Field at Progress Energy Stadium (ABOVE AND BELOW RIGHT) in downtown St. Petersburg. With 6439 seats including the grass, Progress Energy Park -- Home of Al Lang Field -- is a modern, versatile facility with a storied history.
Over it's rich 84-year life, the field has served as the spring training home of a number of Major League Baseball teams. The Philadelphia Nationals called Florida Power Park home from 1916-1921; the Boston Braves from 1922-1924; the New York Yankees from 1925-1937; the St. Louis Cardinals from 1938-1997; and most recently, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1998-2008. As part of it's prolific past, some of baseball's greatest heroes have roamed Progress Energy Park through the years including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and many more.
2010 EVENT SPONSORS
(added as they commit)
11 teams and counting.................
$100 DEPOSIT SECURES YOUR SPOT!!! DON'T GET LEFT OUT!
Teams from Ft. Myers, Tampa, St.Pete/Clearwater and Orlando.
We have been in dialongue with teams from Miami, Sarasota, North Florida and Georgia as well but they are not registered yet.
I'll post the teams soon once all paperwork in completed.
SCHEDULE BASED ON 14 TEAMS.
I probably can accommodate 16 teams however, adjustments will be made based on team registrations. REMEMBER: This is just a tentative schedule.
5/21 Friday Schedule 5/23 Sunday Schedule
Game 1: Jack Russel Stadium 1:00pm Game 25 - Progress Energy Park -- Home of Al Lang Field 8:00am
Game 2: Jack Russel Stadium 4:00pm Game 26 - Progress Energy Park -- Home of Al Lang Field 12:00pm
Game 3: Egan Park - SPB 7:00pm
Game 4: TBA 7:00pm Game 27 - CHAMPIONSHIP - Progress Energy Park -- Home of Al Lang Field 4:00pm
Game 5: TBA 7:00pm
Game 6: TBA 7:00pm
Game 7: TBA 7:00pm
Game 8: TBA 7:00pm
5/22 Saturday Schedule
Game 9 Naimoli Complex Field 1 8:00am
Game10 Naimoli Complex Field 2 8:00am
Game11 Naimoli Complex Field 3 8:00am
Game12 Naimoli Complex Field 4 8:00am
Game13 Naimoli Complex Field 1 11:00am
Game14 Naimoli Complex Field 2 11:00am
Game15 Naimoli Complex Field 3 11:00pm
Game16 Naimoli Complex Field 4 11:00pm
Game17 Naimoli Complex Field 1 2:00pm
Game18 Naimoli Complex Field 2 2:00pm
Game19 Naimoli Complex Field 3 2:00pm
Game20 Naimoli Complex Field 4 2:00pm
Game21 Naimoli Complex Field 1 5:00pm
Game22 Naimoli Complex Field 2 5:00pm
Game23 Naimoli Complex Field 3 5:00pm
Game24 Naimoli Complex Field 4 5:00pm
